planting calendar

January
Sow Early Peas and Broad Beans in the soil in mild areas, protect with cloches
Sow Bulb Onions seeds under glass

February
Continue to sow Early Peas and Broad Beans in mild areas
Sow early Carrot seeds in a cold frame
Sow Bulb Onions and Lettuces under glass
Sow Beetroot, Spinach and Carrots in the soil, protect with cloches
Sow Parsley in the soil unless the weather is cold or wet

March
Sow Lettuces, Radishes and Spring Onions in the soil
Sow Summer Cabbages, Leeks and Brussels Sprouts in a seed bed
Sow Tomato seeds in trays or pots and keep at 18°C (65°F)
Sow Beetroots, Carrots and Turnips in the soil
Plant Early Potatoes and Onion Sets from mid month providing the soil is not excessively wet

April
Continue to sow Lettuces, Radishes and Spring Onions in the soil
Sow Cucumbers, Marrows, Pumpkins and Squashes under glass
Sow Winter Cabbages and Late Summer Cauliflowers in a seed bed
Continue to plant Onion Sets
Plant out Onions grown from seed under glass into the soil
Plant Main Crop Potatoes
Plant Onion Sets and Potatoes in the middle of the month unless the soil is excessively wet
Plant Tomatoes in the greenhouse or in cold frame

May
Continue to sow Lettuces, Radishes and Spring Onions in the soil
Sow Runner Beans under glass
Sow French Beans, Runner Beans and Long Rooted Beetroot towards the end of the month
Plant out Late Summer Cauliflowers
Plant out Cucumbers, Marrows, Pumpkins and Squashes towards the end of the month

June
Continue to sow French Beans, Peas and salad crops in the soil
Continue to plant out Cucumbers, Marrows, Pumpkins and Squashes
Plant out Brussels Sprouts and Winter Cabbages
Plant out Tomatoes
Plant out Leeks
Plant Self-Blanching Celery

July
Continue to sow salad crops in the soil
Complete planting Brussels Sprouts, Leeks and Winter Cabbages

August
Sow early Winter Lettuces and Spring Cabbages
Sow early Carrots

September
Sow Broad Beans, Spring Cabbages, Carrots and Lettuces under cloches

October
Continue to sow Broad Beans and Lettuces under cloches
Plant out Cabbages
Plant Winter and Spring Lettuces

November
Continue to sow Broad Beans under cloches
Continue to sow Lettuces under cloches
Sow Early Peas under cloches

December
Continue to sow Broad Beans, protect with cloches in colder areas

Put you feet up on the 25th !!

The difference between ‘sowing’ and ‘planting’

• Sowing involves putting seeds into a soil, the seed then (hopefully) germinates and a plant grows – until the seed goes into the soil, the seed is dormant and needs no special attention (usually ‘fresh’ seeds have a shelf life of 2 to 4 years).

• Planting involves taking a living plant which needs water and light, and putting it into the soil. Plants can either be grown by a gardener from seed, or purchased from a nursery.